3 Tech Essentials for Working Abroad

Workers are no longer confined by traditional boundaries. In fact, you can work remotely from almost anywhere in the world! Of course, to do so, you’ll need the right tech tools to stay connected. Here are a three essential tech tools that can help make working remotely a success:

1. Smartphones and Cellular Plans

With a smartphone and the right cellular plan, you can stay connected anywhere in the world. If you are traveling overseas while working remotely, free in-flight Wi-Fi can make your trip a lot easier with unlimited texting, picture messaging and visual voicemail. T-Mobile, for example, offers customers free W-Fi for an hour. To use the service, you’ll just need a valid E911 address on file and T-Mobile service.

T-Mobile also offers unlimited data at up to 3G speeds including texting in more than 140 countries at no extra charge. T-Mobile’s ONE Plus International plan offers unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi on Gogo-enabled flights, unlimited mobile hotspot plus unlimited stateside calling to landlines in 70+ countries and mobile lines in 30+ countries.

2. Internet Connection

Internet connection abroad can sometimes be a challenge. You need Wi-Fi that can connect from anywhere in the world if you plan on working remotely. One such service to check out is Skyroam. Skyroam advertises unlimited global Wi-Fi that can be shared among five devices. You’ll pay only for the days you use Wi-Fi without having to sign a contract. There are no roaming charges or SIM card changes required. This is a much better alternative than having to depend on hotels or cafes to get connected. Skyroam offers connections across more than 100 countries.

3. Calendar and Meeting Apps

Working remotely can make you feel a little disconnected. To make sure you do not miss any important team meetings or calls there are a few apps to help including Calendly and Cisco Spark Meeting Notes (formerly Worklife).

Calendly integrates with several calendars including Outlook, Office 365 or iCloud. It has time zone detection to coordinate participants from a variety of time zones, you can also set a buffer time between your meetings and even create secret events. It also integrates with your existing apps such as Salesforce, Zapier or GoToMeeting. You can embed the Calendly link directly on your website to make scheduling meetings easier.

Cisco Spark Meeting Notes is a meeting assistant that has several features to make scheduling meetings while working abroad easier. Cisco Spark Meeting Notes integrates with your Google or Office 365 calendar. You can see a snapshot of upcoming meetings with the option to add agenda items. You’ll get a direct message to remind you 15 minutes before your scheduled meeting along with details on all of the attendees. If all attendees have the Cisco Spark Meeting Notes app, you can collaborate on notes and other action items during the meeting.

Living a remote lifestyle will allow you to work almost anywhere in the world, allowing you to enjoy a different cultural setting and experience. Arm yourself with essential tech tools to stay connected while expanding your horizons. And if you are moving to a country such as India, don’t forget to research the other essentials you will need. You can check out aadhaar help spot to get started.